Rapid fluid discharging means



Oct. 1, 1957 T. A. PARKER, JR., ETAL 2,808,114

RAPID FLUID DISCHARGING MEANS Filed March 19, 1956 m 2 2 7//// /7/ om mmmv m mq Q? v NQwm Q INVENTORS. TAPMULLQ. 32. BY \-\f PLU MMEE AGENUnited States Patent RAPIDFLUID DISCHARGING MEANS Truman A. tParker,-Jr., and Harold Plummen'La-Jolla,

- (Jalif assjgnors -to :Rohr Aircraft Corporation, Chula Vista,Calif.,-a corporation ofiCalifol-nia -Application March 19, 1956;SeirialNo; 572,273

Claims. --(Cl. 169-9) .system generally consists of an :arrangement oftubes having outlets at various locations and having one or morereservoirs connected thereto from whichfire extinguishing fluids aredischarged into the system. l The reservoirs generally contain fluidsunderpressure and are provided with a means for releasing the'fluid intothe system which is actuated by a remote controllocated in the pilotscompartment of .the airplane. '.The .useof .fluidreservoirs containingpressurized fluids .provides .a .-supp ly.-of .fire extinguishing fluidwhichmay: be quickly discharged into the desired areas whennecessary..However, since the fire extinguishing system is used very infrequentlythe possibility of thereservoirs developinga-leak andbeingrenderedinoperative bythe loss of pressure isvery likely, due to the.severe engine vibrations to which the entire fireextinguishing systemis constantly subjected.

It is,.therefore, an object of-this inventionito provide-afluidreservoir containing a non-pressurized. fluids-having meansforejecting the fluid --which is actuatedsimultaneously with theactuating of-a means for releasing'the fluid from the reservoir.

A further object is to provide a fluid reservoirasabove described inwhich the fluid ejectingrmeans and the fluid release means-are actuatedby asingle remote control.

Another object is to 1 provide a fluid 'reservoirwhich maybe: attachedtoa fire extinguishing-system ine-anyrdetsiredposition. i

A still further object is to provide a fluidcreservoir rwhichis notreadily: damaged-and WlJjClIQdOCSTlOLhflV its operation-affected:by:.theengine vibrationsitowhich it is subjected.

Another object is to provide a fluid: reservoir as above describedwhichis of sturdy and relatively inexpensive construction havingfpositiveiactingi fluid release and fluid ejection means. 7 g I Theseand otherobjects and advantages will becomeapparent:asethedescriptiontof the invention proc'eeds.

*For a better understanding of the invention reterence is madeto theaccompa'nying: drawing' il-ln'strating' a prefen-ed embodiment thereof.and inavhieh:

Fi g. i l is a longitudinal section *of 'tlre reservoir, Fig; 2 is ane'nd view of'thereservoir, Fig.3 is an end view (if-the sealing memberused in the end of the reservoir.

With rferenceto'the drawingthe reservoir comprises a rigid outercontainer lii'whi'ch' is preferably made iof metal andcylindrical inshape, 5 having a close'd end 11 and an-open end 12.Positioned*withincontrinerTfl is a flexiblecontainer 13' preferably madeof'thinrubbe'r or "other flexible and liquid'impervious' 'material,.thewall 14 of which fits smoothly in sliding. contact'with .the

innersurface'of wal1'15 of container .10. "Flexible containerl3thasiaclosed'end'16"spaced awayfromlclo'sed end'll'of container andanopen end17 coinciding with open" end 12 'of'container '10. 'Wa'll14 "offlexible container 13 is provided"with'reinforcing rings '18 attachedthereto in spaced apartpositions'by vulcanizing or similar "means asindicated'at'19, which hold 'wall14 in sliding 10 contact with the inner'surfaceof containerlllas shown.

Wall of container'10has an outwardly flared portion 21 at open end 12around'which a suitably shaped flange 22 is secured, theextending end 23of which is internally threaded. A thin ring 24 having a portion 25adjacent its outer'edge disposed at an acute anglecorresponding .to'theangle'of flaredportion-21 of wall 15, is positioned within the open'endsof containers 10 and 13. A thin "webl26 having itsends-secure'd to ring24 extends across ring 24 at the approximate center thereof, web 26being provided with. a sharp projecting portion 27 extending inwardly"for apurpose to be explained. A flexible sealing member28 is disposedwithin the open ends of containers i10lan'd'13 with its inner face 29adjacent its edge in contact withportion-25of ring 24. Sealing member'28is preferably made of flexible combustible plastic-such-as Celluloidandhas a double wall at its center to form a receptacle 30 shaped,asshown in Fig. -3, with outwardly projectingportions31. Receptacle 30is filled with an 'explosivemate'rial such -as gunpowder and has twoelectrodes32 and'33 extending thereinto for a purpose to be explained.The outer face. 34. of sealing member 28 has narrow, shallow grooves '35cut therein, each: groove terminating atthe end of one ofprojectingportions 31 of receptacle 30 for a purposeto be explained. Arigid end member36 having a portion 37 of its wall 38 inclined at anangle corresponding to the angle of flared end por- Ition'21 ofcontainer 10 and an-outwardlyprojecting center portion 39 provided withan opening 40 passing therethrough, is positioned withinthe open ends ofcontainers '10 and 13 with angular portion 37 in contactwith sealingmember '28. Anexternally threaded ring nut'41 surrounding end member-36and in threaded'engagement with the extending end 23 of flange ZZhas ashoulder "42 arranged to; press against the edge of angular portion' 37of wall"38 pressing-portion 37 against sealing'rnember T28 and therebyvpressing sealing member 28' against portion-25 of ring 24and a. portionof wall 14 of container '13 against flaredportion 21 of container 10 toprovide' a closure for the open-endsof containers Iii-and 13. Endmemberi3'6 has a-threaded opening 43 in which an electrical connectingterminal 44 is positioned whichconsists of .aithreaded metabshell-45-containing a dielectric core 46 through which an electrical connector 47passes. S Connector 47 is. connected to electrode 32 in receptacle "30and aground wire 48 :is connected to shell-45 and "52,, preferablylocated withineasy reachuofvt-he air-plane ,pilot.

Closed end ll-of container Itllis providedwithanopeniing53 in .which arigid outwardly projec'tmg.collarl54 is secured. "The lower end 55 ofcollar 54 'is arranged'to "receive aridsupport an explosivefca'rtridgeiiti and the "upperjp'ortion 57 of collar54 is internallyjth'readed to. re- "ceive a cartridge retainer '58. "Ca'r'trfdge "'56comprises a and which extends inwardly from collar 54 into the area 61between ends 11 and 16 of containers 10 and 13. The outer end wall ofreceptacle 59 within collar 54 consists of a rigid metallic plate62-havinga metallic electrode 63 attached thereto and extendingintopowderfl). Plate 62 is provided with a central -openingl64extendingtherethrough which contains a core 65 of electrical insulating materialthrough which a metallic electrode 66 passes. Electrode 66 terminates atits outer end in a contact button of a known type (not shown) embeddedin the outer end of core 65 and extends inwardly through core 65 intopowder 60 sufficiently near to electrode 63 to establish a spark gaptherebetween. -The inner end wall 67 of receptacle 59 is composed of athin easily ruptured material such as thin rubber.

Cartridge retainer 58 is preferably made of metal an has a threaded end68 arranged to enter threaded end 57 of collar 54 and engage and pressagainst plate 62. Retainer 58 is provided with a central opening 69containing a core 79 of electrical insulating material through which anelectrical connection 71 extends into contact with the outer end ofelectrode 66. Connector 71 is connected to lead by means of a wire 72 toconduct electrical current to electrode 66 from battery 51. Electricalcurrent passing through electrode 66 will arc across to electrode 63connected to plate 62 thus producing a spark to ignite powder 60 for apurpose to be explained. To prevent end 16 of container 13 from beingdamaged by the heat of ignited powder 60 a flame and heat deflector isattached to the inner surface of container over cartridge 56 near endwall 67 thereof. Deflector 73 has a solid end wall 74 and side walls 75connected to container 16 which are provided with openings 76 extendingtherethrough.

To use the reservoir, container 13 is filled with fluid and ring 24,sealing member 28 and end member 36 are assembled and secured in theopen ends of containers l0 and 13 as previously described, andprojecting portion 3? of end member 36 is connected to the inlet of afire extinguishing system (not shown). To eject the fluid into the fireextinguishing system, switch 52 is closed permitting electrical currentfrom battery 51 to flow through lead 50 to wires 49 and 72. Currentflowing through wire 49 passes through connector 47 to electrode 32 insealing member 28 and arcs across to electrode 33 producing a sparkwhich ignites the explosive material contained in receptacle 30.Ignition of the explosive material will rupture sealing member 28particularly along grooves 35 in face 34 and will also ignite and burn aportion of sealing member 28 so that the fluid contained in container 13will be permitted to pass freely through the sealing member and outthrough opening 40 in end member 36. Current flowing through wire 72 toelectrical connector 71 flows through electrode 66 and arcs across toelectrode 63 producing a spark which ignites powder 60. The rapidburning or explosion of powder 60 within receptacle. 59 ruptures endwall 67 so that the pressure created by the expansion of gases from theexplosion of powder 60 is directed into area 61 through openings 76 byshield 73. The pressure directed into area 61 presses against end 16 ofcontainer 13 causing end 16 to move toward open end 12 of container 10thereby forcing the fluid contained in container 13 out through rupturedsealing member 28 and opening 40. As end 16 of container 13 moves towardopen end 12 of container 10 rings 18 move along the inner surface ofcontainer 10 until end 16 is in the position indicated by phantom line16. The force with which end 16 is pressed against projecting portion 27of web 26 causes portion 27 to pierce end 16 and release the pressurizedgases created by the explosion of powder 60 in cartridge 56 from area61. The pressurized gases pass out through sealing member 28 and opening40 into the fire extinguishing system to rapidly urge the fluid ejectedthereinto out through the outlets of the system.

In the above described action the electrical current being supplied froma single source 51 and controlled through a single switch 52, reachescartridge 56 and sealing member 28 practically simultaneously so thatcartridge 56 is ignited to produce the force needed to eject the fiuidfrom container 13 at the same time that the explosive material inreceptacle 30 is ignited to rupture sealing member 28 and permit thefluid to pass therethrough. The action takes place very rapidly and isalmost instantaneous with the closing of switch 52 so that the fluid isdischarged from the outlets of the fire extinguishing system into thedesired area very quickly.

The sturdy construction of the reservoir and its positive fluid ejectionaction provides a reliable source of fire extinguishing fluid which isadaptable for use in fire extinguishing systems on nearly all types ofairplanes.

This invention may be embodied in other forms or carried out in otherways without departing from the spirit or essential characteristicsthereof. The present embodiment of the invention is therefore to beconsidered as in all respects illustrative and not restrictive, thescope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are intended to be embraced therein.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and useful anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fluid reservoir and means for discharging fluid therefrom,comprising: a rigid metallic container having a closed end and an openend; a flexible container disposed within said rigid container andadapted to contain a fluid, said flexible container having an open endcoinciding with the open end of said rigid container and a closed endspaced from the closed end of said rigid container; a sealing memberdisposed within the open ends of said containers, said sealing memberbeing composed of flexible combustible material; an explosive con tainedwithin said sealing member; a rigid end member secured to the open endof said rigid container and arranged to press the open end of saidflexible container against the open end of said rigid containers and theperipheral portion of said sealing member against the end of saidflexible container, said end member being provided with a passagecommunicating with said sealing member; means for igniting saidexplosive to thereby rupture said sealing member and permit the passageof fluid therethrough; and means for simultaneously applying pressureagainst the closed end of said flexible container to force the fluidfrom said flexible container and out through said passage.

2. A fluid reservoir as claimed in claim 1; in which a piercing means isdisposed within said containers and arranged to pierce the closed end ofsaid flexible container after the fluid is forced out of said flexiblecontainer.

3. A fluid reservoir and means for discharging fluid therefrom,comprising: a rigid container having a closed end and an open end; aflexible container disposed within said rigid container and adapted tocontain a fluid, said flexible container having an open end coincidingwith the open end of said rigid container and a closed end spaced fromthe closed end of said rigid container; an explosive .cartridge disposedwithin the closed end of said rigid container and arranged upon ignitionthereof to direct an explosive pressure into the area between the closedends of said containers; a sealing member disposed within the open endsof said containers, said sealing member being composed of a flexiblecombustible material; an explosive material contained within saidsealing member arranged upon ignition thereof to rupture said sealingmember; a rigid end member in engagement with the open end of said rigidcontainer and arranged to press the open end of said flexible containeragainst the open end of said rigid container and'the peripheral portionof said sealing member against the end of said flexible container, saidend member being provided with apassage communieating with said sealingmember; means for simultaneribs being arranged and constructed to holdportions of ously igniting said explosive material and Cartridge; andthe wall of said flexible container in sliding engagement means forpiercing the closed end of said flexible with the wall of said rigidcontainer.

container.

4. A fluid reservoir as claimed in claim 3; in which a 5 References Citi th fil of this patent heat deflector is interposed between the closedend of said UNITED STATES PATENTS flexible container and said explosivecartridge.

5. A fluid reservoir as claimed in claim 3; in which a g ii I 2 i?plurality of thin supporting ribs are attached to the wall 2577744 us 61951 of said flexible container in spaced apart positions, said 10 aust2,719,589 Mapes Oct. 4, 1955

